What are the major points of difference in Realist International Essay

What are the major points of difference in Realist International Relations Theory - Essay Example The developments of this period acted as wake-up calls because nations started getting interested in owning resources, creating political boundaries, and ruling the world (Viotti, & Kauppi, 2012). Since then, war has been a part of life for some countries because of lack of peace with neighboring states, for example, Iran and Iraq. Other countries such as the European Union and America found peace by forming international organizations such as United Nations, which formulates the rules that govern the interaction between countries. Scholars have formulated theories to help states to determine how they should interact with others. The main theories of international relations include realism and idealism. The theory of realism has been embraced and criticized at the same time because of the contradictions in its tenets; this makes it useful to analyze the hypothesis and determine the differences in its arguments. Origin of Realism Theory The theory of realism bases its arguments on eco nomic principles, and it argues that states aim at maximizing their utility relative to others. The utility of states increases when they own more resources and power contrary to their counterparts (Rengger, 200). This means that the techniques used to acquire power and resources are not questionable, even if they are against humanity and ethics. The founders of this theory include Nicholas Spykman, Carr, and Hans Morgenthau, all who are from the European Union. Watz and Alexander Hamilton of the United States later contributed to theory. The artistic works of Thucydides and Sun Tzu that existed before the foundations of the theory were used as the basis for the formulation of its principles (Donneley, 2000). Assumptions of the Theory The hypothesis assumes that the government is the highest level of power in a country, and that the leaders of the state make rational decisions. According to Machiavelli, rational decisions are those that increase wealth and power. Therefore, national leaders do not take courses that degrade the power and resources of the state because this would be irrational. This means that the theory disregards international organizations such as the United Nations and International Monetary Fund, which may dictate the actions of the government. The independence of the actions of states means that countries interact in an anarchical system; this is where each government aims at gaining comparative advantage in the acquisition of certain resources and powers (Resende, 2007). Tenets of the Realism Theory of International Relations The principles of the theory were developed by Morgenthau after the Second World War when international relations became a popular subject. However, the ideologies that were applicable during the war included those of Carr and Machiavelli. The first principle of the theory of realism argues that states are governed by the rule of law, and that it is the regulations that manage international relationships (Mary, Rosec rance, & Steiner, 2010). This means that states that do not have laws may not find peace with others, and even those that have inefficient regulations may also fail to find peaceful international neighbors. This then depicts that countries must concentrate on the formulation of logical and efficient laws, in order for them to prosper in the international economy (Machiavelli, & Marriott, 2010). This is because a country analyzes the laws of another state when determining whether to engage in foreign relations